I'm a sinner, no better than any other human being. I have no personal bragging rights. My only boast is that, in spite of my many sins and my numerous faults, through God's grace, given in Jesus Christ, my sins are forgiven and I have a new life.

Friday, July 09, 2010

A terrific concert from about a month ago during the Hard Rock Calling Festival in London. Macca's voice is a bit rough during the first few songs, no doubt the product of his refusal to warm up before concerts. But he and the band really cook as time goes on. It's striking to see and hear the audience, composed of people of all ages, sing along with music from every portion of his career, testimony to the fact that the guy has composed a huge chunk of everyone's soundtrack for nearly fifty years now.

These words come from the daily emailed inspiration sent out by my friend and colleague, Pastor Glen VanderKloot, Faith Lutheran Church in Springfield, Illinois:

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A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Live Christ's life in your action.
Don't just go to worship.
Live the worship in everything you do.
Don't just partake of communion.
Be the Body of Christ in every action that you take.
Don't just observe the baptism.
Live the death and resurrection in your work, in your planning.
Don't just read the words.
Be the Word!
Let the Word become flesh and dwell among and in and through you.

(Eric Law "Sacred Acts, Holy Change" p. 5)

Scripture:
Colossians 3:16 New International Version

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach
and admonish one another with all wisdom,
and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs
with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Prayer:
Lord, help me to embody the Gospel,
not just think about or talk about it. Amen

LIVING out faith in Christ is important. But even then, Christians can expect to be misunderstood and reviled. No matter; because of the incredible grace of God and not by our deserving, we belong to Christ forever!

Jesus says:

“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 13
“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 14“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:11-16)

Thursday, July 08, 2010

This is today's emailed inspiration from my colleague and friend, Pastor Glen VanderKloot:

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A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
“What a shame that many Christians get more excited and vocal about football games or an ocean cruise than about Jesus Christ, the Lord of heaven and earth.”
Jim Cymbala "The Church God Blesses" p. 46-47

Scripture:
Psalm 63:5 TNIV: I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

Prayer:
Lord, help me to be as excited about my faith in you as I am about so many lesser important things in life. Amen
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If you've never read any of Jim Cymbala's books, by the way, I recommend them highly.

Check out these words of Jesus (in them, Jesus refers to Himself as "the Son of Man"):

[Jesus said:] “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. 42Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour." (Matthew 24:36-44)

God doesn't promise that this life will be easy. But whatever happens, we're called to be faithful to God. We can dare to do that because in God's ultimate self-disclosure, the crucified and risen Jesus, we know that God is always faithful to us...and because something better awaits us!